Enthusiasts from around the world learn to drive Formula-style cars at 130 mph

CONCORD, Mass., June 14, 2006 ? The
Skip Barber Racing School is using SolidWorks® Office Premium 3D CAD software
to design the race cars that thousands of enthusiasts from around the world
learn to drive at race tracks in the U.S. The school's engineers have reduced
design time by as much as 80 percent, improved car performance, and cut costs
using SolidWorks.

Skip Barber Racing School has the world's
largest fleet of race cars, with more than 200 cars used in five different base
locations as well as at more than 70 driving schools and events. Nearly 12,000
students a year learn how to drive everything from street-legal performance
cars to open-wheel Formula race cars that reach 130 miles per hour in intense,
closely monitored conditions. Since its founding in Lakeville , Conn. in 1975,
the school has trained more motorsports winners and champions than any other
organization of its kind. Its engineers chose to switch from 2D to 3D CAD to
minimize design cycles, reduce errors, and more easily build instructor feedback
into new designs.

?AutoCAD® was too much work, and
making changes was very cumbersome,? said James Achard, lead engineer for operations
at Skip Barber Racing School . ?When we design in SolidWorks, the outcome is
right the first time, which lets us finish projects faster and save money on
expensive track testing time. Moreover, SolidWorks streamlines design processes,
freeing us to be more creative so we can design better products.?

Achard and his team use SolidWorks models
to share design concepts with engineers on the shop floor so they can troubleshoot
any problems and minimize rework. They also use eDrawings® e-mail-enabled
design communication tool to share solid models of the parts they're working
on with non-engineers such as instructors and marketing staff. Because the school's
cars must accommodate drivers ranging in height from five feet to six feet,
five inches, engineers need to design components and features that can work
for students of most any size. SolidWorks' intuitive interface makes it easy
to build instructor and driver feedback about such features into the design
without having to start over with each change.

?Skip Barber Racing lets people fulfill
their dreams of getting behind the wheel of a race car and zooming around a
track at blinding speeds,? said Rainer Gawlick, SolidWorks vice president of
worldwide marketing. ?But ensuring peak performance and safety for each vehicle
requires precise engineering, and SolidWorks is the means of delivering on that
process.?

Skip Barber Racing relies on authorized
SolidWorks reseller Computer-Aided Products for ongoing software training, implementation,
and support. For more information about the Skip Barber Racing school and the
experience of driving 130 mph, listen to the podcast at http://www.solidworks.com/mediapodcast.

About Skip Barber Racing, LLC

Headquartered in Lakeville , Conn. ,
and operating out of four additional base locations, Skip Barber Racing is the
world's largest racing and driving school, available at close to 30 race tracks
across the U.S. and Canada . In addition to the Skip Barber Racing School, the
Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School, and the High Performance Driving School, it
runs six separate open-wheel racing championships, including the prestigious
entry level pro series, the Skip Barber National Presented by RACER . More information
is available by calling 860.435.1300, and at (www.skipbarber.com).

About Computer-Aided Products

With offices throughout New England ,
Computer-Aided Products is a leading regional reseller of CAD/FEA/PDM software
specializing in SolidWorks, rapid prototyping systems, training, consulting,
and support. Our engineering staff includes experts in design, analysis, drafting,
PDM, and Windows networks. Our partnership with the best solutions in the industry,
along with more than 17 years of practical experience, provides a solid foundation
for your mechanical engineering and design process. For more information, visit
the company Web site (www.capinc.com) or
call 800.424.2255.

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